Swimming device



c. E. DARRovIl. SWIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED I UNE 7, I92I.

Patented Fb. V14?, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEY WITNESS:

C. E. DARROW.

SWIMMlNG DEVICE.

APPucmoN FILED-lunar. 1921.

1,406,940, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. .92a

ci Zi afqmm 0&4, BY MyW WITNESS:

UNllfgE/,l STATES rA'rsuT orrlce.

CLARENCE E. DARRGW, OF MEAEI, FLORIDA..

SWIMMHG DEVCE.

To (/,ZZ whom t may concern Be it known that l, CLARENCE E. Danuowi a citizen of the United States;l residing at lvliami, in the county of Dade and State of Florida7 have invented new and useful linprovelnents in Swimming levices of which the following. is a speciication.

This invention relates to swimming de-v vices and has for an object the provision of so as to provide means for supporting an additional person or persons and 'thus especially adapting the device for the saving of life.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the'following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings Y Figure 1 a plan view of a. swimming device constructed in accordance with' the invention.

li`igure 2 is an edge view of the same.

Figure 8 is av section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1. p

Figure l is a side elevation of a modiied form of the invention.

Figure top plan view of the same.

Figure 6 is a side view of a still further modified form.

Figure 7 is an elevation of one type of :float which may be towed bythe swimming device.

Referring to the drawings in detailA7 wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, reference being had more especially to Figures 1 to 8, the reference character 10 indicates they body of the device which is made up of a pair of boards 11, suitably secured together so as to provide a float or buoyant member. Theftloat is shaped in plan somewhat similar to the :i is a serial No; 475,677.

the shaft 13 has secured thereon a propeller 15,. which is adapted to be operated by the swimmer. ot the shaft 13 has secured thereon a beveled pinion lo, which is engaged by and driven by a beveled pinion 17 which is secured upon the inner end of the shaft 18. rThis shaft and the pinions 16 and 17 are contained within openings or cut out portions provided in the float. The outer end of the shaft 18 is provided with an operating crankV 19, so that a person lying upon the float may rotate the shaft 18 4so as to operate the drive kshaft 1?) and the propeller 15 and drive the float through the water. A handle or grip 2O is secured to the float to be grasped by one hand of the swimmer. n

Pivotally secured beneath the bottom of the float upon a rod or shaft 21 is a rudder 22. the lower end of the rod or shaft 21 being connected to one end of a brace rod 23, the opposite end of which is secured to the fioat so to provide stay for holding the rudder pivot in position. Extending from opposite sides of the rudder be- For this purpose, the inner end.

Specification of Letters Patent. V Patented Feb 14:, 71922'. Application :ned :um v, 1921.

yond the side edges of the float are arms 2l.v

on edge and is provided with a drive shaftV 2G which extends rearwardly and downwardly and is provided with a propeller 27. An additional shaft 28 extends. up wardly and forwardly beyond the end of the float and is provided with a drive shaft,

29. the shafts 26 and 28 being in alignment.

Secured to each of these shafts is a pinion 30, which engages and is driven by a pinion 31 which is secured upon a transversely arranged shaft 32, the last mentioned shaft being provided with an operating crank so that the shafts 26 and 28 may be manually driven. The rudder in this type of'fioat is formed by a section of the body portion and is indicated at 34, being hinged to the main body portion as shown at 35. This rudder is provided with oppositely extending arms 36, by means of which the rudder is operated after the manner of the rudder 22.

Tn Figure 6 there is illustrated a still further modified form of the invention and like the form of the device shown in Figures 4 and 5 is designed to travel through the water on edge. In this form of the device the drive shaft which is indicated at 37 extends forwardly and is provided with a Vpropeller 38 and at its rear end with a pinion 39. The pinion 40 which ismounted upon the shaft 4l engages the pinion 39 so that when the said shaft 4l is rotated through the medium of the operating crank 42, the propeller will be operated. This form of' the device is especially adapted for towing and for this purpose isprovided at its forward end with an eye 43, to which may be secured one cnd of a cable 44. This cable is carried rearwardly and is engaged by a catch 45, so that in towing` the -eable will trail in the wake ofthe float. y The latter is steered by a rudder 46 which` is hinged to the main body as at 47, while arms 48 serve to provide means for operating the rudder.

When the device is used as a life saving device, there is attached to the cable at an appreciable distance from the float, a second float 49, which is provided with flexible grips 50 which are to be grasped by a rescued person or persons so that they may be towed to shore, thetowing rope being paid out from the shore during the outward progress of the ioat. By spacing the fioat 49 the proper distance from the towing float, the latter may more easily ypass over` or through the surf, the swimmer or rider passing through and beyond the influence of the surf before the float 49 reaches the same. This enables the swimmer to obtain sufiicientV headway to pull the fioat 49 through the surf. Vhen it is desired to return to shore the cable is released from the catch 49 so that persons at the shore end of the rope may tow in both boats7 the towing fioat returning head on.

The| invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to :make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is y l. A swimming device comprising a pair of flat complemental buoyant members arranged in contact and defining a float, the opposed faces of said members being provided with registering grooves and defining a shaft housing, a shaft rotatable therein, means whereby the shaft may be rotated, a

y propeller secured upon the shaft and means for steering the float.

2. A swimming .device comprising a pair of flat complemcntal buoyant members arranged in Contact and defining a float, the opposed faces of said members being provided with registering grooves and defining a shaft housing, a shaft rotatable therein and extendingthrough one end of the float. means whereby the shaft may be rotated, a propeller secured upon the shaft and a rudder hingedly secured within a cut away corner at one end of the fioat and forming a continuation of the latter. i

Tn testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

' CLARENCE E. DARROVV. 

